One Reckless Night

by Stephanie Morris

  the past when it came to men. Dane often said those exact words to her. Bayleigh hadn’t understood

  what he meant then but now she had a better understanding. Dane could be a pain sometimes when

  he pushed her. However, in the end it seemed to work out. Still she was afraid of the emotions

  coming to the surface now that she was letting Dane in on such a personal level.

  “Did you ever feel like you didn’t deserve Jarvis?”

  To Bayleigh’s surprise, tears sprang into Tasha’s eyes. “Oh, Bayleigh. We are more alike than

  you will ever know. But you deserve happiness. You deserve Dane.”

  Bayleigh gave her sister a sad smile. “I’m scared,” she whispered.

  She looked up as Tasha slid from her side of the booth, before coming over to sit next to

  her. Tasha embraced her and Bayleigh embraced her sister back. “Talk to Dane, Bayleigh. Tell him

  the truth. Let him know what you are afraid of.”

  Bayleigh ducked her head. “Dane already knows. I can see it in his eyes. He doesn’t push me

  the way he does in our friendship.

  He’s patient and tries to allow me the time to reach my own conclusion.”

  Tasha smiled. “If he’s willing to be patient in that way, don’t you think you should trust

  him?”

  Bayleigh looked up. “I do trust him.”

  The protest sounded weak even to her own ears. Tasha pulled back to look at her, her

  expression skeptical. “Are you sure you trust him?”

  Bayleigh opened her mouth to respond but no sound came out. Did she trust Dane? Her

  actions said she didn’t. She didn’t have any faith in him at all where it counted. He had stood by her

  when it really counted during their friendship, yet she didn’t think he would do the same in their

  relationship.

  Dane never tried to change her. He complimented her on her new fashion, but she knew he

  liked her just fine without them. Bayleigh looked up when Tasha leaned closer to her.

  “I learned a very important lesson with Jarvis. Love isn’t neat. It doesn’t come in a pretty

  package wrapped with a neat bow. You have to open yourself up and be willing to accept the good

  with the bad. Dane makes you sparkle, Bayleigh. The way mom does with dad. The way I do with

  Jarvis.”

  Bayleigh digested her sister’s words. When she was around Dane, she did feel happier, even

  with the change in their relationship status. Even now as she sat enjoying lunch with her sister, her

  mind was on her date with Dane tonight. She was looking forward to spending time with him.

  “Mom and dad are going to be beside themselves when they hear about this.”

  Bayleigh tried to squelch her panic when she looked at Tasha. “You can’t tell them.”

  Tasha laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it. This is information our parents need to hear from

  you.” Tasha’s expression turned serious. “You will have to tell them though. Trial relationship or

  not, you can’t keep this hidden from our parents.”

  Bayleigh nodded slowly. “I know. I don’t plan on it.”

  “You have something in mind?”

  Bayleigh had been thinking about how to tell her parents since she agreed to see Dane. “I

  plan on bringing him to dinner with me next Sunday.”

  Tasha laughed. “This sounds like it could be serious.”

  Bayleigh shrugged. “It could be, but I plan on taking this slow. You’ve given me a lot to

  think about and I will. I have a lot to figure out. Dane means a lot to me and I don’t want to ruin

  that for great sex.”

  Tasha spewed the tea she just drank across the table. “Oh, damn.”

  Tasha scrambled for extra napkins on the table to clean up the mess. She looked at Bayleigh

  before sliding out of the booth. Bayleigh laughed as her sister cleaned the table.

  “What Tasha, you didn’t think Dane and I would have sex?”

  Tasha gave Bayleigh a warning look before sitting back down on the opposite side of the

  booth. “Sex is a natural part of a relationship, Bayleigh. I would expect it to be a part of your

  relationship. Still to hear you mention sex is a little shocking no matter who you have it with.”

  Bayleigh smiled. Her sister’s shock was understandable. It was similar to what she felt the

  first time she became aware of Dane as a man, not just a friend. A week after her breakup with

  Erwin, Dane had borrowed his friend’s boat and took her to Lake Grapevine. Bayleigh had always

  loved the water and Dane wanted to cheer her up. When Dane had showed up, she had on her dark

  shades to hide the fact she’d been crying. He hadn’t been fooled, but he was nice enough not to

  mention it.

  It wasn’t long after they pulled up to the lake that they were racing across it. The water

  calmed her as it always did. After a few minutes on the water she looked over at him, instantly

  becoming shocked at her awareness of him. It was no secret that Dane was an attractive man.

  Women were drawn to his looks, not to mention his charm. That day her body had tightened at the

  sight of him. Bayleigh had tried to clear her mind, but it didn’t happen. Guilt had consumed her

  because her eyes had wondered over the body of her best friend.

  It had become worse when he took his shirt off. The shame she felt that day had been

  staggering. The end of her relationship with Erwin was barely a week old. Yet, she was salivating

  over another man, one who happened to be her best friend. Another glance at his muscular body

  had consoled her.

  After her horrible break up with Erwin, she never imagined she would be attracted to

  another man. Dane had proved her wrong that day. She’d chocked it up to having high emotions

  over her breakup with Erwin. Now she knew it was more. Every time he touched her, he left her in

  a complete stupor. Somewhere in the five years that she had known Dane, he had become a

  knockout. Who was she kidding? He always had been sexy as sin. Bayleigh still couldn’t believe Dane

  wanted her. It wasn’t like he could have any woman he wanted. He usually did. Dane was a man

  who knew what he wanted and how he was going to get it. In some ways she was jealous of his

  sense of adventure.

  “Bayleigh, close your mouth. You’re drooling.”

  Bayleigh sat up straight. She brought her hand up to her mouth, but no moisture was there.

  Her eyes narrowed. “You are mean.”

  Tasha laughed. “And you look like you’re ready for a little action with Dane.”

  Bayleigh felt heat traveling up her neck. “For Heaven’s sake, Tasha.” She looked around the

  restaurant hoping no one overheard her sister’s outrageous statement. “We are in public.”

  The corners of Tasha’s mouth curled upward. “Yes we are, but don’t tell me you weren’t

  thinking about jumping him.”

  “I wasn’t,” Bayleigh growled.

  Tasha’s smile widened. “It’s no big deal. Dane is drool worthy. He would also make a good

  husband. And you have seen him with his niece and nephew. He’s bound to make a good father as

  well.”

  Bayleigh looked at her sister with shock. “You already have us married with kids?”

  Tasha tried to look innocent. “Only two.”

  Bayleigh rolled her eyes. “You are annoying.”

  Tasha laughed. “Good. I’m fulfilling my role of little sister.”

  Before she could respond, a gentleman approached their table. Bayleigh looked up at him

  with surprise.

 
“Good afternoon ladies. I hate to interrupt, but you look familiar.”

  Bayleigh struggled to keep her mouth from falling open. The gentleman was speaking to her,

  not Tasha. She didn’t know this guy. He was someone she would remember because he was

  attractive. Unfortunately he wasn’t her type. Her preference was a dark haired man with green eyes.

  Oh Lord. She was thinking about Dane again.

  Giving the stranger a kind smile, Bayleigh shook her head. “No. I don’t think so. I would

  remember you.”

  The man grinned at the backhanded compliment. “You look familiar. I have definitely seen

  you around somewhere.”

  Tasha discreetly cleared her throat while extending her left hand to the stranger. “I’m Tasha,

  this is my sister, Bayleigh, and you are?”

  Bayleigh watched the interaction between her sister and the stranger who introduced himself

  as Brett. Why couldn’t she be more like Tasha? Bayleigh didn’t have time to contemplate it for Brett

  turned his attention back to her.

  “Where do you work?”

  Bayleigh’s expression changed, suspicious of his question. He laughed as he pulled out his

  wallet and handed her a business card. She glanced at it. Neither the name nor the business on the

  card jogged her memory.

  “I work at Cal-Com Communications, but I’m positive that I don’t know you.”

  Tasha intervened on Bayleigh’s behalf. “My sister is pretty good with names and faces. So

  tell me Brett, are you single by any chance?”

  Bayleigh eyes widened in astonishment. Tasha was flirting with this guy? Even worse, the

  man seemed to be receptive despite the wedding ring on her sister’s hand. Brett definitely wasn’t her

  type.

  “Yes I am,” Brett responded.

  Bayleigh groaned, closing her eyes. Jarvis was going to kill her sister. He was going to kill her

  for sitting idly by.

  “Good, since you gave my sister your business card, maybe you won’t mind if she calls you

  sometime.”

  Bayleigh’s eyes snapped open. Had she just heard her sister try to hook her up? “Tasha!”

  Bayleigh snapped, her voice full of warning.

  Brett turned his gaze to her, and Bayleigh gave him an apologetic look. Before she could say

  anything Brett’s lips were moving. What came out of them almost knocked her over.

  “I would like that,” Brett murmured.

  Bayleigh didn’t miss the open interest in his eyes or the warmth in his tone. Instead of being

  flattered she felt queasy.

  “I hope to hear from you soon. Enjoy the rest of your lunch ladies.”

  Tasha waved her fingers at Brett as he walked away. Bayleigh was too busy glaring at her

  younger sister to even bother.

  “What the hell was that about?” Bayleigh demanded when Brett was out of earshot.

  Tasha shot her a look of innocence no one would believe. Bayleigh was tempted to throw

  her fork but she would hate to have to explain the injury to Jarvis and their mother.

  “I believe it’s called a set up.”

  “You got that right,” Bayleigh muttered. “Did you forget about Dane?”

  Tasha smiled. “What about him?”

  Bayleigh looked at her sister as if she had lost her mind. “I know you have a bad memory,

  Tasha, but you know what I’m talking about.”

  Tasha gave her a smug look. “I have selective memory.”

  Bayleigh rolled her eyes. “I will be sure to tell mama.”

  Bayleigh picked up her fork but her hunger had dissipated. The stunt her sister just pulled

  was despicable.

  “What are you so upset about Bayleigh? A few minutes ago you were saying you and Dane

  aren’t a sure thing. It was obvious Brett was interested in you, so I thought I would help you out.”

  Bayleigh looked at her sister with every ounce of irritation that surged through her. “I don’t

  need any help. Especially if it is to fix me up with other men when I’m not sure about the one I’m

  currently involved with.”

  Tasha’s eyebrows rose. “So now you’re involved with Dane?”

  Bayleigh groaned. She could feel a headache coming on. Now she remembered why she

  didn’t want to talk to her sister about this.

  “Be careful Bayleigh or I’m going to start thinking you like Dane.”

  “Don’t be a horse’s butt Tasha, of course I like Dane.”

  Tasha leaned closer to her. “Beyond the point of screwing his brains out?”

  Bayleigh’s eyes widened at her sister’s crude words. “You can be so vulgar sometimes.”

  “I’m sorry, Bayleigh but it frustrates me when you sell yourself short.”

  Bayleigh shook her head in denial. Even though her sister’s words rang true in her ears. “I’m

  not selling myself short Tasha. I just want to be sure this is the right thing to do.”

  Tasha shot her an amused look. “I would love to pretend you’re being honest, but we both

  know it isn’t true. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  Bayleigh remained silent. She could fall in love with Dane and he could hurt her. The idea

  alone petrified her. He had the power to hurt her in a way no other man could. Her heart was fragile

  when it came to him. She had to be careful.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Bayleigh cleared her expression. “Nothing.”

  “What you mean is nothing you want to talk about?”

  Bayleigh gave her sister a leveled look. “Too bad you can’t take a hint.”

  Tasha laughed. “You love me in spite of it.”

  The corner of Bayleigh’s mouth curled upward. “You can be a pain in the butt.”

  A few moments later Bayleigh’s smile faded. “This wasn’t supposed to happen, Tasha.”

  “You don’t want Dane?”

  Bayleigh shook her head. “I’m starting to want him too much. I think about him all the time.

  It drives me nuts.” Bayleigh sighed. “I’ve been such a moron in the past over men who could care

  less about me. Imagine how crazy I could get if I let my guard down with Dane.”

  Tasha offered her a sympathetic smile. “Bayleigh, Dane is one of the good guys. Besides I’ve

  seen the way he looks at you from afar.”

  “What do you mean the way he looks at me? I only found out recently and you haven’t seen

  him since he confessed.”

  Tasha shook her head. “You just haven’t paid attention Bayleigh. Even daddy noticed a

  while back.”

  Bayleigh’s eyes widened. “No, he didn’t.”

  Tasha nodded. “Yes, he did.”

  Bayleigh shook her head in disbelief. “This is exactly why I can’t do this. It could get out of

  hand and I can end up doing something stupid like falling in love with Dane.”

  “I think you already have, Bayleigh.”

  Chapter Seven

  Why had she agreed to do this?

  Bayleigh was with Dane …technically she was at a gathering with Dane and she wasn’t

  having a good time. Crowds weren’t her thing. To top it off, he had left her by herself while he went

  to refill their drinks. Making herself as invisible as she could, she stood in the corner waiting for him

  to come back.

  Okay she was hiding, but who could blame her. She was in a room full of strangers. Besides

  Dane, the only other person she knew was Isaac and he was busy talking to a woman who seemed to

  be entranced with his every word. Dane convinced her coming to this party would be fun. It wasn’t.

  Bayleigh flinched when someon
e turned the music up. Wasn’t it loud enough already? She

  watched people move to a clear area before moving together in unison to the beat. Her mind went

  back to her night with Dane at Club Onyx. When she thought about what they had done in the

  private room she felt her face begin to heat. Now she was ready—more than ready—to go home—

  to be alone with Dane. As soon as he came back, she would convince him it was time to leave. It

  shouldn’t be too hard to do. After her exhausting lunch date with Tasha last Saturday she had

  elected to go home after her date with Dane. Needless to say, there had been no sex last week. Their

  schedules had been too hectic this past week to get together, so she was looking forward to some

  alone time tonight.

  “Hey sexy. You want to dance?”